Means to produce a hydrocarbon and metallic sol



Nov. 7, 1933. 1 J. c. ARNOLD 1,933,836

MEANS TO PRODUCE AHYDROCARBON AND METALLIC SOL Filed Dec. 11, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l Tit1.i

l9 s f: 22

lNVENTOR James C. Arno/a @KWM [ 1 ATTORNEY Nov. 7, 1933.

MEANS TO PRODUCE A HYDROCARBON AND METALLIC SOL J. C. ARNOLD Filed Dec.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I-ii INVENTOR James C Afiro d wiiiwq ATTORNEY ?atented Nov. 7, 1933 MEANS TO PRODUCE A ROCARBON AND METALLIC SOL James 0. Arnold, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application December 11, 1931 Serial No. 580,344

12 Claims. (Cl. 204-31).

This invention relates to means for dispersing a metal in hydrocarbon fluid by high frequency electric current.

Hydrocarbon fluid when used as an explosive fuel in internal combustion engines is improved in its anti-detonating qualities by the presence of metal particles therein at the time of burning of the fuel. Lead has been used for this purpose. It has been found that dispersion of heat absorptive metals in the hydrocarbon will improve the anti-detona.ting qualities. The present invention has for its object the provision of means to disperse metals directly in a hydrocarbon fluid, and the aforementioned use of the product is merely illustrative of one use to which the product may be put. The means forming the present invention contemplates the employment of high frequency electric current passed across a gap in the hydrocarbon fluid and the emanation of metallic particles in said gap.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig.1 is a sectional view through apparatus for hydrocarbon fluid; Figs. 2 and 3 are sections as seen on the lines correspondingly numbered in Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is another type of apparatus. Referring more particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, a tubular member 5 of insulating material, such as refractory glass, has collars 6 threaded to the ends. Secured by one collar is a dome 7 having an outlet pipe 8 for treated hydrocarbon. Connected to thebottom of the tubular member 5 is a base 9 having an elbow 10 to which an adaptor 11 is attached. An inlet pipe 12 for fluid to be treated is connected to the adaptor. There is an electric pump 13 conventionally shown for forcing the hydrocarbon fluid through the chamber provided by elbow 10, tube 5, and dome '7. Connected to the top of the dome is a pipe 14 leading to a reflux condenser 15 for condensation of vapors and return to the inlet line. Mounted in the tubular member 5 and extending across the bore thereof are disks 16a and 16b. These disks form partition walls extending across the chamber and also act as electrodes.

They are preferably formed of a composition alloy of metals, one of the metals being disruptible' by an electric arc and the other being of such characteristics as to not to be disruptible under the temperature of the arc, thereby forming a disk which retains its form and rigidity under the electric are. A composition of lead, nickel and iron will serve the purpose.

Extending through the walls of member 5 are insulator bushings 1'7 carrying conductors 18.

The conductors 18 are connected to the end electrodes. Conductors 18 are also connected to a high frequency oscillating circuit indicated gen- 16b act as a spark gap of the multiple disk type and complete the oscillating circuit. The primary of the low frequency transformer may be connected to a power circuit supplying alternat- 5 ing current.

Hydrocarbon fluid, such as gasoline is pumped into the chamber and passes through staggered apertures 24a and 24b in the disks so as to follow a tortuous path, all of the hydrocarbon fluid pass- 7 ing between the electrodes. During the passage of the liquid, the are caused in the spark gap carries with it charges of metallic particles which are in a nascent state. There is a zone of pyrolytic act on and a metallic sol is dispersed in the gasoline. There may be a pyrogenic action, but this is incidental to the production of the metallic sol. The disruptible metal used may be any type having anti-detonating qualities, that is, a metal having a specific heat greater than hydrocarbon when vaporized.

Referring to Fig. 4,'a chamber is shown comprising a cylinder 25, a dome 26 and a base 27. There is an inlet pipe 28 and an outlet pipe 29. Within the cylinder 25 are electrodes 29 of the same character as shown in Fig. 1 but with concentric bores through which an insulating bushing 30 extends. The electrodes are connected by a secondary winding 31 of a high frequency transformer. The primary of the high frequency transformer is disposed on the outside of cylinder 25. One of the terminals of winding 32 is connected to the plate of a three electrode thermionic generator tube 33. The other terminal of winding 32 is connected through a transformer winding 34 and a tickler winding 35 to the grid of tube 33. A thermionic oscillator tube 36 has its plate connected to coil' 37 of the tickler and to a transformer winding 38. The tube 36 is of the heater. type, its grid being connected to an oscillating circuit 39 which is in turn connected to the other terminal of transformer 38. Inductively coupled to winding 38 is a winding 40 for supplying potential to the plate and grid of tube 36. A filament transformer 41 1 supplies current to the filaments of tubes 33 and 36. Winding 42 is inductively coupled to winding 34 to supply potential to the grid and plate of tube 33. I.

The arrangement issuch that an oscillating 0 current of high frequency will be generated and passed through the primary winding 32 which is in turn inductively coupled to winding 31 for supplying high frequency current to the electrodes. An arc is formed between the electrodes and a charge such that a metallic sol is formed.

There are various other modifications of the system for supplying high frequency current which will be apparent to those skilled in theart and coming within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for the treatment of hydrocarbon fluid comprising a chamber having an inlet and an outlet for fluid, a plurality of spaced metallic electrodes including metal bodies disruptible by a fluid comprising a chamber having an inlet and an outlet for fluid, a plurality of spaced metallic bafie plates forming electrodes and including metal bodies disruptible by a high frequency electric discharge. passing therebetween, said electrodes being disposed in said chamber in the path of fluid flowing between said inlet and outlet to cause all fluid passing through said chamber to flow between said electrodes over the faces thereof whereby to subject said fluid to action from a large electrode area; and a high frequency electric circuit connected to said electrodes for causing an are between said electrodes carrying metallic particles.

3. Apparatus for the treatment of hydrocarbon fluid comprising a chamber having an inlet and an outlet for fluid, a plurality of spaced baflie plates of metallic composition fog electrodes including metallic material disruptible by a high frequency electric discharge passing therebetween and non-disruptible material for form retention,

said electrodes being disposed in said chamber in the path of fluid flowing between said inlet and outlet and arranged to deflne a tortuous path between an anode wall and a cathode wall for all fluid passing through said chamber; and a high frequency electric circuit connected to said electrodes for causing an are between said electrodes carrying a. charge of metallic particles.

4. Apparatus for the treatment of hydrocarbon fluid comprising a chamber having an inlet and an outlet for fluid, a plurality of spaced bafiie plates forming electrodes, including metal bodies disruptible by a high frequency electric discharge passing therebetween, said plates being disposed across said chamber to form partition walls in the path of fluid flowing between said inlet and outlet and having perforations arranged in staggered relation to cause all fluid passing through said chamber to flow between said electrodes; and a high frequency electric circuit connected to said electrodes for causing a space charge of metallic particles between said electrodes.

5. Apparatus for the treatment of hydrocarbon fluid comprising a chamber having an inlet and an outlet for fluid, a plurality of spaced be plates of metallic composition forming electrodes including metallic terial disruptible by a high frequency electric discharge passing therebetween and non-disruptible material for form retention, said, plates being disposed across said chamber to form partition walls in the path of fluid flowing between said inlet and outlet and having perforations arranged in staggered relation to cause all fluid passing through said chamber to flow between said electrodes; and a high frequency electric circuit connected to said elec trodes for causing an are between said electrodes carrying a charge of metallic particles.

6. Apparatus for the treatment of hydrocarbon fluid comprising a chamber having an inlet and an outlet for fluid, a plurality of spaced metallic electrodes including metal bodies disruptible by a high frequency electric discharge passing therebetween, said electrodes being disposed in said chamber in the path of fluid flowing between said inlet and outlet to cause all fluid passing through said chamber to flow between said electrodes over the faces thereof whereby to subject said fluid to action from a large electrode area; and a high frequency oscillatory electric circuit connected to said electrodes for causing a space charge of metallic particles between said electrodes, said circuit including said electrodes as a spark gap therein.

7. Apparatus for the treatment of hydrocarbon fluid comprising a chamber having an inlet and an outlet for fluid, a plurality of spaced metallic bafie plates forming electrodes and including metal bodies disruptible by a high frequency electric discharge passing therebetween, said electrodes being disposed in said chamber in the path of fluid flowing between said inlet and outlet to cause all fluid passing through said chamber to flow between said electrodes over the faces thereof whereby to subject said fluid to action from a large electrode area; and a high frequency electric circuit connected to said electrodes for causing an are between said electrodes carrying metallic particles, said high frequency circuit including an oscillatory circuit having said electrodes forming a spark gap therein.

8. Apparatus for the treatment of hydrocarbon fluid comprising a chamber having an inlet and an outlet for fluid, a plurality of spaced bafie plates of metallic composition forming electrodes including metallic material disruptible by a high frequency electric discharge passing therebetween and non-disruptible material for form retention, said electrodes being disposed in said chamber in the path of fluid flowing betweensaid inlet and outlet and arranged to define a tortuous path between an anode wall and a cathode wall for all fluid passing through said chamber; and a high frequency electric circuit connected to said electrodes for causing an are between said electrodes carrying a charge of metallic particles, said high frequency circuit including an oscillatory circuit having said electrodes forming a spark gap therein.

9. Apparatus for the treatment of hydrocarbon fluid comprising a chamber having an inlet and an outlet for fluid, a plurality of spaced bafile plates forming electrodes including metal bodies disruptible by a high frequency electric discharge passing therebetween, said plates being disposed across said chambers to form partition walls in the path of fluid flowing between said inlet and outlet and having perforations arranged in staggered relation to cause all fluid passing through said chamber to flow between said electrodes; and a high frequency electric circuit connected to said electrodes for causing a space charge of metallic particles between said electrodes, said high frequency circuit including an oscillatory circuit having said electrodes forming a spark gap therein.

10. Apparatus for the treatment of hydrocarbon fluid comprising a chamber having an inlet and an outlet for fluid, a plurality of spaced baffle plates of metallic composition forming electrodes including metallic material disruptible by a high frequency electric discharge passing therebetween and non-disruptible material for form retention, said plates being disposed across said chamber to form partition walls in the path of fluid flowing between said inlet and outlet and having perforations arranged in staggered relation to cause all fluid passing through said chamber to flow between said electrodes; and a high frequency electric circuit connected to said electrodes for causing an arc between said electrodes carrying a charge of metallic particles, said high frequency circuit including an oscillatory circuit having said electrodes forming a spark gap.

11. Apparatus for the treatment of hydrocarbon fluid comprising a chamber having an inlet and an outlet for fluid, spaced metallic electrodes including metallic bodies disruptible by .a high frequency electric discharge passing therebetween, said electrodes being disposed in said chamber in the path of fluid flowing between said inlet 'and outlet; a secondary circuit including said electrodes; and a high frequency oscillatory circuit including thermionic tubes, said high frequency circuit being inductively coupled to said secondary circuit. v

JAMES C. ARNOLD. 

